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Former President speaks out on AWB

Op-Ed ContributorWhat Happened to the Ban on Assault Weapons?

By JIMMY CARTER
Published: April 26, 2009

THE evolution in public policy concerning the manufacture, sale and possession of semiautomatic assault weapons like AK-47s, AR-15s and Uzis has been very disturbing. Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and I all supported a ban on these formidable firearms, and one was finally passed in 1994.

When the 10-year ban was set to expire, many police organizations — including 1,100 police chiefs and sheriffs from around the nation — called on Congress and President George W. Bush to renew and strengthen it. But with a wink from the White House, the gun lobby prevailed and the ban expired.

I have used weapons since I was big enough to carry one, and now own two handguns, four shotguns and three rifles, two with scopes. I use them carefully, for hunting game from our family woods and fields, and occasionally for hunting with my family and friends in other places. We cherish the right to own a gun and some of my hunting companions like to collect rare weapons. One of them is a superb craftsman who makes muzzle-loading rifles, one of which I displayed for four years in my private White House office.

But none of us wants to own an assault weapon, because we have no desire to kill policemen or go to a school or workplace to see how many victims we can accumulate before we are finally shot or take our own lives. That’s why the White House and Congress must not give up on trying to reinstate a ban on assault weapons, even if it may be politically difficult.

An overwhelming majority of Americans, including me and my hunting companions, believe in the right to own weapons, but surveys show that they also support modest restraints like background checks, mandatory registration and brief waiting periods before purchase.

A majority of Americans also support banning assault weapons. Many of us who hunt are dismayed by some of the more extreme policies of the National Rifle Association, the most prominent voice in opposition to a ban, and by the timidity of public officials who yield to the group’s unreasonable demands.

Heavily influenced and supported by the firearms industry, N.R.A. leaders have misled many gullible people into believing that our weapons are going to be taken away from us, and that homeowners will be deprived of the right to protect ourselves and our families. The N.R.A. would be justified in its efforts if there was a real threat to our constitutional right to bear arms. But that is not the case.

Instead, the N.R.A. is defending criminals’ access to assault weapons and use of ammunition that can penetrate protective clothing worn by police officers on duty. In addition, while the N.R.A. seems to have reluctantly accepted current law restricting sales by licensed gun dealers to convicted felons, it claims that only “law-abiding people” obey such restrictions — and it opposes applying them to private gun dealers or those who sell all kinds of weapons from the back of a van or pickup truck at gun shows.

What are the results of this profligate ownership and use of guns designed to kill people? In 2006, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported more than 30,000 people died from firearms, accounting for nearly 20 percent of all injury deaths. In 2005, every nine hours a child or teenager in the United States was killed in a firearm-related accident or suicide.

Across our border, Mexican drug cartels are being armed with advanced weaponry imported from the United States — a reality only the N.R.A. seems to dispute.

The gun lobby and the firearms industry should reassess their policies concerning safety and accountability — at least on assault weapons — and ease their pressure on acquiescent politicians who fear N.R.A. disapproval at election time. We can’t let the N.R.A.’s political blackmail prevent the banning of assault weapons — designed only to kill police officers and the people they defend.

Jimmy Carter, the 39th president, is the winner of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize.

I am particularily disturbed by this line, "[N]one of us wants to own
an assault weapon, because we have no desire to kill policemen or go
to a school or workplace to see how many victims we can accumulate
before we are finally shot or take our own lives."

That means if you own "semiautomatic assault weapons like AK-47s,
AR-15s and Uzis" you have the desire to kill police, school kids and
co-workers... oh, and we're also suicidal in addition to homicidal.

He says that straight out!! If you own a military style rifle, you are
a killer of innocent civilians.

Wow.

Did you notice how politically incorrect he was by calling them
Policemen instead of Police Officers? He's also a sexist.

Jimmy is a waco that is for sure and he is such that he would not kill or shot anyone threating him but I kind of find this hard to believe enve form him

Views and opinions expressed herein by Badbullgator do not necessarily represent the policies or position of RTF. RTF and all of it's subsidiaries can not be held liable for the off centered humor and politically incorrect comments of the author.
Corey Burke

Maybe the security detail that guard him should not carry any weapons on his ban list. Or since the are not hunting on the family farm none at all. He is as big a hypocryte as Rosie O'Donnel for wanting to ban handguns for everyone except her body guards.

"Communism only works in Heaven, where they don't need it, and in Hell, where they already have it" Ronald Reagan

Wow I always thought he was an idiot but wow......... On the bright side Jimmy is the only president with a higher approval than bho in his first few weeks.....oh wait maybe that is not a bright side.....

darker shades of jimmy regards

Views and opinions expressed herein by Badbullgator do not necessarily represent the policies or position of RTF. RTF and all of it's subsidiaries can not be held liable for the off centered humor and politically incorrect comments of the author.
Corey Burke

Across our border, Mexican drug cartels are being armed with advanced weaponry imported from the United States — a reality only the N.R.A. seems to dispute.

This is only true in Jimmy's fantasy world. Because of our gun laws, it is nearly impossible for the Mexican's to get thier hands on any quanity of firearms from the USA. Just about all of thier guns come to them from Central and South America!

Just more weak-knee politics from the Dems.

Collecting more taxes than is absolutely necessary is legalized robbery. Calvin Coolidge

I am particularily disturbed by this line, "[N]one of us wants to own
an assault weapon, because we have no desire to kill policemen or go
to a school or workplace to see how many victims we can accumulate
before we are finally shot or take our own lives."

That means if you own "semiautomatic assault weapons like AK-47s,
AR-15s and Uzis" you have the desire to kill police, school kids and
co-workers... oh, and we're also suicidal in addition to homicidal.

He says that straight out!! If you own a military style rifle, you are
a killer of innocent civilians.

Wow.

I used to work in the Los Angeles metroplex approx 1 1/2 miles from where the Rodney King riots started and was there as the "festivities" began. Anybody in that area with a lick of common sense KNEW what was going to happen as soon as the verdicts were issued. Long story short, I protected myself from multiple black males aggressively approaching my car at a red light simply by having an cocked/locked SKS on hand. Not a shot was fired.
Many of my fellow citizens exercised their right to self-defense with similar weapons at that time, most not as fortunate as I was. But I did not hear of any of them shooting any peace officers or non-aggressive civilians.

Because of this, I made a vow. And when California passed the Roberti-Roos firearms ban , I voted w/ my feet & taxes. But I'm NOT running any more.

I refuse to let Jimmy Carter, Ted Kennedy or any other hypocrite try to say that I am less of a citizen because I posses, and am willing to use, a military styled rifle to defend myself, family, neighbors and property. That their right to protected by a bodyguard with multiple UZI's is somehow superior to mine.

I refuse to let a person that supports a terrorist organization like Hamas, try to dictate that my Creator given and Constitutionally guaranteed right will limited to a rare or obsolete machine. If he and his "companions" (comrades?) limit themselves in that manner, that's their choice, but I will not surrender my option to protect my life with a modern firearm.

I refuse to accept the contention that because some people abuse their rights, that I must give up mine and I will not give up the most effective means of my self defense because of problems in a foreign country.

I refuse to be "gullible" enough to accept that an "assault weapon" , is "designed only to kill police officers and the people they defend." My semi-automatic rifles have NO device which allows them to fire only when they detect a uniform or badge, or can somehow sense that the target has no aggressive intent towards me/mine or weapons of it's own. But that is what a hoplophobe like Mr. Carter would have the actual "gullible" ones believe. The facts that an AR, AK or UZI could actually be used to assist a LEO or protect the innocent as I have actualy seen, can not register on the brain of a person like that.

Mr Carter's precious Hamas and Hezbollah cling to their religion and guns to defend themselves in their struggle against the "oppressive" Israelis and he champions it.
But his own countrymen, never!

"It's not that government is inherently stupid, although that's a debatable question."
Rand Paul CPAC speech 2011

I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it. Thomas Jefferson to Archibald Stuart, 1791
________________________________________
Proud partner of (HR) WR SR Brian's 44Magnum Monster
co-owned by HR Rianne's 2nd Chance Hurricane Rebel

Peanuthead is out of office(Deo Gratia) but I bet he speaks for a lot of those in the democrat party who detest guns and gun owners. I have the right to own an assault weapon for any reason or for no reason. Personally I think that it is far better means of protection against armed intruders than a single shot .22.